chapter 1: intro to child development

physical domain

changes in height and weight, gross and fine motor skills, sensory capabilities, nervous system, as well as the propensity for disease and illness.

cognitive domain

changes in intelligence, wisdom, perception, problem solving, memory, language

social and emotional domain

changes in emotion, self perception, and interpersonal relationships

age of prenatal development

conception through birth

age of infancy and toddler

birth through 2 years

age of early childhood

3 to 5 years

middle childhood

6 to 11 years

age of adolescence

12 to adulthood

primary concern of prenatal development

nutrition, factors that would lead to birth defects, and labor and delivery

highlights of infancy and early childhood

• contains dramatic growth and development

• exceptional hearing, poor vision

highlights of early childhood

• learning language

• gaining independence and a sense of self

• sometimes has difficulties with space, time, distance

highlights of middle childhood

• lots of what they experience is tied to schooling and others their age

• begins comparison of oneself to others

• growth rate slows down

• children can refine motor skills

• develops skills in social relationships

highlights of adolescence

• contains growth spurt and puberty

• begins to think of new possibilities and other abstract concepts like love, fear, freedom

why do people argue nature

some see nature (heredity) as the most important role in growth

why do people argue nuture

they would argue that one’s environment is more significant in shaping the way we are.

discontinuity theory

developmental change occurs in distinct stages that are qualitatively different from each other in a set universal sequence.

continuity theory

assumes development is a more slow and gradual process. i.e. what we have in adulthood was based on what we had in childhood.